Claw-hammer.



G. W. BENTON.

CLAW HAMMER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 14,1912.

1,108,380., Patented July 14, 1914.

UNITED STATES tPillfEhtt @lfihlfihl.

GEORGE W. BENTON, OF BROOKIiYN, NE'VV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIND STEEL 8e WIRE WORKS INC., on NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YDEK.

CLAW-HAMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1d, lgid.

Application filed. September 14-, 1912. Serial No. 320/132.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE 'W. Rniv'ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovcments in Claw-Hammers; and i do hereby declare the follov-ring to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such. as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in claw hammers and is intended to provide a claw hammer of the usual type with. means for holding and driving a nail in places normally out of reach of a user.

An object of the invention is to provide a hammer of this type with a lug formed on the socket portion thereof, which lug cooperates with the jaws of the hammer in holding a nail in position preparatory to driving same while permitting a release by direct backward movement of the hammer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lug of such form on the socket portion of a claw hammer so as to permit hammers with such lugs to be made by the usual process of drop-forging.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hammer of this type with a lug formed on a socket which lug is tapered to permit tree draft from a die and which lug may subseipiently be notched as by a milling machine or shaper.

Further objects will be apparent from the following specification, appended claim and drawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the head. of a hammer made in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing one of the claws broken away, and, Fig. 3 is a sectional. view thereof as on the line 33 of i 2 showing the lug in elevation.

My invention resides in forming a lug on a socket of hammer to engage the head of a nail and to assist the same in being held preparatory to driving.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates the head of the hammer provided with the usual claws 11 and socket 12. A lug 13 is formed on the socket 12 under the jaws i1 and this lug is for: d so as to taper and permit the han'imer to be made in the usual style of drop-forging. The upper portion of the lug is removed so as to form a shoulder 14 and a recess to receive the head. ot a nail iii-i s ihown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings and the cutaway portion. may be such as to present a rounded or sharp cornered recess to receive the head of the nail.

in using the hammer for the use provic ed for by this invention, the nail is gripped by the shank sul'licicntly distant from the head to permit application. with one hand and the head is placed in the recessed portion formed by cutting away the lug 13 so that the head bears against the shoulder Li when the shank is swung up and jammed between the claws oi: the hauuner whereupon the nail will be ten'iporarily held until that portion extending beyond the claws is driven into place. Then by simply raising the hammer, it may be removed from the nail when the hammer can be turned. around and used in the ordinary fashion.

i am aware that various i'nodifications may be made within the scope of this invention and .i do not restrict myself to the identical form shown which is submitted for illustrative purposes only.

-Iaving thus described my invention, 1 claim:

A hammer embodying a socket portion h ving externally tapered sides and having a bifurcation thrilling claws, said bifurcation stopping short of the socket portion; and a nail-head support formed upon the side of the socket portion next the claws, said support presenting a. howl-engaging upper sur 1 co 'substantially perpendicular to the tapered sine of the socket. i'iortion and providing such structure that a nail head will engage directly against the outer wall of the socket portion.

in testimony whereof .i. ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l i REITON.

ld itnesses HUGO Moon, Gnonen T. TnoM.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

